Audi and its long-standing Audi factory driver Dindo Capello were awarded a prize in Italy for groundbreaking technology in motorsport.

Award ceremony at Monza: the Italian organization ‘Confartigianato Motori’ honored Audi and Dindo Capello on Thursday. During an event at the Italian Grand Prix the industry association awarded an environmental prize in motorsport for the first time. Audi received the award for the hybrid technology in the R18 e-tron quattro. At the same time, Audi factory driver Dindo Capello was honored for his great contribution to this technology. Along with team mates Allan McNish and Tom Kristensen, the Italian proved to be particularly economical in handling the hybrid system at the 6 Hours of Spa and also in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The trio won the die Michelin Green X Challenge for the most efficient drive in the both FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) events.

Unusual world premiere: AUDI AG revealed, for the first time in its company history, a new car to the world’s press exclusively in the internet. The Audi RS 5 Cabriolet was presented exclusively online on Thursday. During the virtual presentation moderator Martin Haven guided viewers through the program together with Audi factory drivers Rahel Frey and Edoardo Mortara.

Endurance race victory in Belgium: the Belgian Audi Club Team WRT repeated its victory from last year in the 24 Hours of Zolder. Laurens Vanthoor, Anthony Kumpen, Edward Sandström and Marco Bonanomi won in the Audi R8 LMS ultra by five laps. The Audi factory has won at Le Mans, the Nürburgring and Spa this year. With the Belgium private team’s victory a fourth 24-hour victory is added to the brand’s endurance record this year. For the Belgian Anthony Kumpen it was his sixth overall victory in this event.

Champion in demand: Timo Scheider participated in two appointments at the weekend. The double DTM Champion was a popular guest at the opening of a new Audi Terminal for the Hahn Group in Ludwigsburg. The day after he visited the employees’ open-day at the facility in Homburg an der Saar for partner Schaeffler.

DTM enthusiasm in shadow of stylish backdrop: in Braunschweig the DTM advertised for the eighth round staged at the nearby Oschersleben with a press conference and an autograph session. Audi factory driver Rahel Frey represented her brand in the town from the Middle Age in her customary pleasant manner.

Alliance with great opportunities: the two most important sportscar series’ in the USA compete together in the future. The American Le Mans Series, established in 1999, and GRAND-AM Road Racing founded a year later form a new sportscar platform from January 2014. Audi is currently represented through customer programs in GRAND-AM as well as the Pirelli World Challenge, which runs during the ALMS events. Several private teams rely on different versions of the customer racing Audi R8 sportscar.

Electric power: Lucas di Grassi, who competes for Audi next week in the WEC race in Brazil, is official test driver for the new FIA Formula E Championship. The series is held exclusively on fully electric singe-seaters.

Enthusiasm in Bergisches Land: spectators at the Schloss Bensberg Classics were able to look deep into Audi’s motorsport history. Hans-Joachim Stuck, first DTM Champion for Audi in 1990, was one of the many esteemed guests at Schloss Bensberg. The Audi Sport quattro S1 from 1985 gave fans a fascinating technical impression of the brand’s successful rallying history.

Podium finish for Audi: David Hallyday and Stéphane Ortelli clinched a podium place at the fifth French GT Championship race weekend. The French duo finished third in the first of two races at Navarra, Spain in an Audi R8 LMS entered by Team Audi France. Hallyday/Ortelli were fourth in the second race.

A word from ... Timo Scheider

You recently made an impressive comeback with pole position at Zandvoort. It appears that you understand the Audi A5 DTM even better than before?

Yes, that is correct. After a poor start to the season we were busy finding the right set-up. During the test at Magny-Cours in the summer break we made some new findings and were able to implement them positively. Since Zandvoort I now really have the feeling that I get the maximum out of the car. This makes me very happy for the rest of the season.

Oschersleben, one of your favorite tracks, approaches this coming DTM weekend. What can we expect?

I associate great emotions with Oschersleben. I celebrated my first DTM race win there and have always returned home with good results under my belt. I’ve held the DTM track record there since 2010. For this reason, I have only positive memories of the track. Oschersleben could be a good time in the season to finally get on the podium.

You are not only a busy man in the cockpit for Audi. You currently have various PR appointments on your plan. Is it good to be so much in demand?

It’s fair to say that it’s a good feeling when you are personally of interest for your sport and the sponsors. Also, especially when things aren’t going so well as in my case this car. I’m a person who likes to communicate with other people, which is why I enjoy these appointments. However, no later than 2013 I also hope that people are talking about me mainly due to sporting headlines.

Coming up next week

15.09. Tierp Arena Stockholm (S), Swedish GT Championship, round 6

15.09. São Paulo (BR), WEC, round 5

16.09. Oschersleben (D), DTM, round 8

16.09. Nürburgring (D), ADAC GT Masters, round 7

16.09. Braga (P), Portuguese GT Championship, round 5

16.09. Zhuhai (CN), Audi R8 LMS Cup, round 4

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